{"id":22507,"date":"2025-10-01T09:48:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T09:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sochtimes.com\/2025\/10\/01\/saudi-arabia-to-host-wicked-musical-for-the-first-time-launching-middle-east-tour-in-riyadh-world-news\/"},"modified":"2025-10-01T09:48:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T09:48:01","slug":"saudi-arabia-to-host-wicked-musical-for-the-first-time-launching-middle-east-tour-in-riyadh-world-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sochtimes.com\/hi\/2025\/10\/01\/saudi-arabia-to-host-wicked-musical-for-the-first-time-launching-middle-east-tour-in-riyadh-world-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Saudi Arabia to host \u201cWICKED\u201d musical for the first time, launching middle east tour in Riyadh | World News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"MwN2O\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"T22zO\">\n<section class=\"D3Wk1  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  VtlfQ\" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"D3Wk1\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"zPaFh\">\n<div class=\"wJnIp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-124253676,imgsize-1058275,width-400,resizemode-4\/wicked.jpg\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia to host \u201cWICKED\u201d musical for the first time, launching middle east tour in Riyadh\" title=\"\u201cWICKED\u201d will premiere in Riyadh December 3-20, featuring 100 performers and 350 costumes\/Image: SPA\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"cj2hz img_cptn\"><span title=\"\u201cWICKED\u201d will premiere in Riyadh December 3-20, featuring 100 performers and 350 costumes\/Image: SPA\">\u201cWICKED\u201d will premiere in Riyadh December 3-20, featuring 100 performers and 350 costumes\/Image: SPA<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The internationally acclaimed musical \u201cWICKED\u201d is set to make its Middle Eastern debut in Riyadh this December, marking a milestone in Saudi Arabia\u2019s cultural calendar. Presented by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) and Broadway Entertainment Group, the production will run from December 3 to 20, 2025, at the King Fahad Cultural Center.<!-- --> This event highlights Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing role as a cultural hub aligned with Vision 2030\u2019s goals to enhance quality of life and diversify entertainment offerings.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"cdatainfo   id-r-component\" data-pos=\"4\">\n<h2>Saudi Arabia hosts the iconic musical \u201cWICKED\u201d for the first time<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>For the first time ever, the beloved musical \u201cWICKED\u201d will be performed in the Middle East, with Riyadh as the starting point for its regional tour. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City, in partnership with Broadway Entertainment Group, officially announced that the show will run for 18 days in December 2025 at Riyadh\u2019s King Fahad Cultural Center.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"7\"\/>Engineer Khalid bin Abdullah Alhazani, Vice President of the Lifestyle Sector at RCRC, emphasized that this event underscores the commission\u2019s dedication to bringing world-class cultural and entertainment experiences to Saudi Arabia. He linked the initiative directly to the Quality of Life Program, a key part of Saudi Vision 2030 aimed at enriching cultural and recreational opportunities for all residents.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"cdatainfo   id-r-component\" data-pos=\"13\">\n<h2>\u201cWICKED\u201d: A global phenomenon arrives in Riyadh<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cWICKED\u201d ranks among the world\u2019s most successful musicals, having attracted over 70 million viewers globally across 130 cities in 25 countries. The Riyadh production promises to deliver the full experience, featuring:<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"cdatainfo   id-r-component\" data-pos=\"16\">\n<ul>\n<li>Over 100 performers, technicians, and orchestra members<\/li>\n<li>More than 350 costumes<\/li>\n<li>The show\u2019s most iconic musical numbers, including \u201cDefying Gravity,\u201d \u201cPopular,\u201d and \u201cFor Good\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz expressed his excitement for the Riyadh performances, highlighting that this new production brings fresh energy while preserving the heart of the story. <!-- -->He described \u201cWICKED\u201d as a celebration of friendship, love, and courage\u2014values that resonate universally.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"20\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"cdatainfo   id-r-component\" data-pos=\"21\">\n<h2>Story and cultural impact: The tale behind \u201cWICKED\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p>Inspired by the classic \u201cThe Wizard of Oz,\u201d \u201cWICKED\u201d is set in the magical land of Oz. The musical explores the intertwined lives of two young women: one with emerald-green skin, misunderstood but gifted, and the other admired and ambitious. Their relationship evolves from friendship to rivalry, shaping their destinies as Glinda the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch of the West.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"24\"\/>The narrative\u2019s timeless themes of identity, loyalty, and standing up for one\u2019s beliefs have helped the show captivate audiences worldwide. This December\u2019s staging in Saudi Arabia will be the first time Middle Eastern audiences can experience this compelling story live.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Ticket information for \u201cWICKED\u201d in Saudi Arabia<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/>Tickets for the Riyadh performances of \u201cWICKED\u201d are available online at <a href=\"http:\/\/wicked.platinumlist.net\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" target=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\">wicked.platinumlist.net<\/a>.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/> This event marks the beginning of the musical\u2019s Gulf tour, positioning Riyadh as a key cultural gateway for the region.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script>\nvar _mfq = window._mfq || [];\n_mfq.push([\"setVariable\", \"toi_titan\", window.location.href]);\n!(function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n    function loadFBEvents(isFBCampaignActive) {\n      if (!isFBCampaignActive) {\n        return;\n      }\n      (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n        if (f.fbq) return;\n        n = f.fbq = function() {\n          n.callMethod ? n.callMethod(...arguments) : n.queue.push(arguments);\n        };\n        if (!f._fbq) f._fbq = n;\n        n.push = n;\n        n.loaded = !0;\n        n.version = '2.0';\n        n.queue = [];\n        t = b.createElement(e);\n        t.async = !0;\n        t.defer = !0;\n        t.src = v;\n        s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n        s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s);\n      })(f, b, e, 'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js', n, t, s);\n      fbq('init', '593671331875494');\n      fbq('track', 'PageView');\n    };\n    function loadGtagEvents(isGoogleCampaignActive) {\n      if (!isGoogleCampaignActive) {\n        return;\n      }\n      var id = document.getElementById('toi-plus-google-campaign');\n      if (id) {\n        return;\n      }\n      (function(f, b, e, v, n, t, s) {\n        t = b.createElement(e);\n        t.async = !0;\n        t.defer = !0;\n        t.src = v;\n        t.id = 'toi-plus-google-campaign';\n        s = b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n        s.parentNode.insertBefore(t, s);\n      })(f, b, e, 'https:\/\/www.googletagmanager.com\/gtag\/js?id=AW-877820074', n, t, s);\n    };\n    function loadSurvicateJs(allowedSurvicateSections = []){\n      const section =  window.location.pathname.split('\/')[1]\n      const isHomePageAllowed = window.location.pathname === '\/' && allowedSurvicateSections.includes('homepage')\n      const ifAllowedOnAllPages = allowedSurvicateSections && allowedSurvicateSections.includes('all');\n      if(allowedSurvicateSections.includes(section) || isHomePageAllowed || ifAllowedOnAllPages){\n        (function(w) {\n         function setAttributes() {\n            var prime_user_status = window.isPrime ? 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